River Board

Hutt News, Volume 15, Issue 36, 25 February 1942, Page 5

River Board

The monthly meeting of the Unit River Board was held on Wednesday afternoon. The chairman, Dr. 1!. J. Dudley, presided. •The application of the Jlutt Park Committee for remission of Ihe current year's rates was not granted. Further to a letter from the board in .regard to (he replacement of the Moiling Bridge, the Bower Hutt City Colincil advised that it was in favour of the replacement of the bridge at. some opportune time, and suggested a conference with the interested bodies including the Railway Department. It was decided to seek the advice of (he Minister of Internal Affairs on the matter. The engineer, Mr. 11. Sladden. reported that, he had conferred with the engineer of the Bower I-lutt City Council. Mr. H. R. Bach, in regard to (he construction of air raid shelters adjacent to the stop bank in Andrews Avenue. After the hoard members had inspected the site, authority to proceed with the work was granted. ENGINEER'S REPORT The engineer. Mr. H. Sladden, pre senled the following report which was adopted: ' The Hull. River has been at a lowlevel for the past-month. The highest levels were on Ihe night of 2<Uh ultimo and evening of L'Xth ultimo, where there were rises of about ."'.fl above high tide level at the Hutt bridge. The work attended to during the period has been protective work below Moiling bridge, netted boulder work- at llentley's, a small extension to a groin at Steilin's and preparatory work for the groin at Belmont Extension right, bank old channel. Melling protective work and future diversion cut.— The maintenance of the protective work below Melling bridge is costly. Apart, however, from this the diversion cut is becoming increasingly desirable by reason of the channel improvement having well developed from the estuary upstream nearly to Kingdon's beach. Development further up will not be sal isfactory until the cut has been made, by reason of the sharp bend at Melling causing shingle accumulations and preventing a regular travel of Ihe shingle. Also the longer the diversion cut is delayed the greater will be the likelihood of -considerable deterioration to the : improved channel, because, large quantities of ,shingle will feed : down from above as . the gradient'of the bed adjusts and improves itself upstream from the cut.